Electrode for dryers



Dec. 15, 1970 A. T. ASHBY ETAL ELECTRODE FOR DRYERS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 18, 1968 Came/ 2 Dec. 15, 1970 A. T. ASHBY ETAL ELECTRODE FOR DRYERS 2 SheetsSheet 2 Filed Nov. 1-8, 1968 m 5 w w 2 m N ha} f m WM & z 5 WWO an Z N M a u mm 0 3 H 4 I I. V N m M w z z w m w United States Patent Ofice 3,546,785 ELECTRODE FOR DRYERS Alfred T. Ashby and Curran D. Cotton, Newton, Iowa,

assignors to The Maytag Company, Newton, Iowa, a

corporation of Delaware Filed Nov. 18, 1968, Ser. No. 776,484 Int. Cl. F26b 13/10 U.S. Cl. 34-45 11 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An electrode assembly is provided for use in a fabric drying apparatus having a control system for determining the dryness condition of fabrics by resistance sensing. The electrode assembly includes an elongated electrode member positioned on an insulative member and comprising an elongated fabric contacting portion, electrode holding means, and an electrical terminal portion all integrally formed from a thin continuous strip of conductive metal.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention This invention relates to devices for determining the dryness condition of fabrics and more particularly relates to an electrode assembly for contacting the fabrics and completing an electrical circuit therethrough.

Description of the prior art Prior art patents relating to moisture determination systems disclose electrodes in the form of elongated wires wrapped about a baffle, as in U.S. 3,197,885 issued Aug. 3, 1965 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. Other electrodes shown in other patents take various forms as follows: tie bolts extending from the front of the fabric container to the rear of the container; a series of electrically separated conductive plates in the fabric container; and various shapes of conductive members bolted to the fabric container or to the baffies within the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of this invention to provide an improved sensor configuration useful in moisture determination systems and including an easily fabricated and assembled electrode.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an electrode assembly including an electrode member formed from a continuous strip of conductive metal and integrally including a portion for contacting the fabrics, a holding means, and an electrical terminal.

It is a further object of the instant invention to provide an electrode assembly including an electrode member formed from a continuous strip of relatively thin conductive metal and integrally including a pair of barbed end tabs and an electrical terminal.

It is still a further object of the instant invention to provide a baflle assembly for a fabric dryer having a moisture determination system in which the baffle supports an elongated electrode member having integral holding means and electrical terminal means.

The electrode assembly of the instant invention achieves these objects by the provision of an elongated electrode formed to include a portion engageable by the fabrics and 3,546,785 Patented Dec. 15, 1970 also to include integral holding means and electrical terminal means. The electrode is assembled to an insulative mounting means without the use of additional holding or retaining members.

Operation of the device and further objects and advantages thereof will become evident as the description proceeds and from an examination of the accompanying two pages of drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention with similar numerals referring to similar parts throughout the several views, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a fabric drying apparatus including portions shown in section for exposing the subject matter of the instant invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of one of the baflles including the electrodes of the instant invention;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the baffle assembly as taken substantially along lines 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the baffle assembly shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section view taken through the baflle assembly substantially along lines 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of the electrode member showing the integral holding means and electrical terminal portion;

FIG. 7 is a side view of one end of the electrode member showing further details of the integral holding means and electrical terminal portion; and,

FIG. 8 is a side view of the opposite end of the electrode member showing the holding means for retaining the end of the electrode not having an electrical terminal portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings there is shown a fabric drying apparatus including a cabinet 10, a control housing 11 mounted atop the cabinet 10 at the rear portion thereof, a rotatable fabric container 13 supported within the cabinet 10, and a motor 14 supported on a base 15 within the cabinet 10 and operable for rotating the fabric container 13. Fixed to the peripheral sidewall 16 within the fabric container 13 is a plurality of bafile assemblies 19.

The instant invention is directed generally to the baffie assembly 19 including baflle member 20 and elongated electrodes 21. The baffle assembly 19 is engageable with the tumbling fabrics and operable in a moisture sensing and control system for initiating termination of the operation of the drying apparatus. Such a sensing and control system is shown in U.S. 3,197,884 issued to T. R. Smith Aug. 3, 1965 and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention. Referring to FIG. 2 there is shown what will be considered a top view of the baflle assembly 19 of FIG. 1 and more clearly showing a pair of electrodes 21 positioned on the baffie member 20 for contact with the tumbling fabrics.

Referring to the views shown by FIGS. 2 through 5, it is clear that the baffle 20 is formed as a substantially hollow member open at the bottom and attachable to the peripheral wall 16 of the fabric container 13 by a pair of screw members 23 with the bafile assembly 19 being axially oriented with respect to the axis of rotation of the fabric container 13 for broadside engagement with the fabrics to lift them for tumbling. The baffle member is formed of a polypropylene material to provide a bafile having high dielectric strength and possessing high moisture and corrosion resistance. The bafile member 20 may be formed with a relatively thin wall having a corrugated exterior portion and including a plurality of transversely extending internal ribs 24 to provide strength and rigidity.

The baflle member 20 is further formed with a pair of longitudinally extending shallow depressions 25 On the crown of the baffle separated by an intermediate ridge 26 and having an opening 29 at the ends of the longitudinally extending depressions 25. The electrode members 21 are assembled to the baffle member 20 adjacent the intermediate ridge 26 so that the major portion 30 of each electrode 21 is positioned for contact by the tumbling fabrics within the rotating container 13. The ridge 26 between the electrodes 21 prevents simultaneous contact of both electrodes by rigid objects such as metal buttons or buckles. The electrodes 21 include downwardly turned end legs or tabs 33 and 34 insertable into the openings 29 formed in the bafile 20 for positioning and retaining the electrodes 21 on the baffle 20 as will be more fully shown hereinafter.

The electrode member 21 is more specifically shown in FIGS. 6 through 8. As previously indicated, the electrode 21 is formed from a single strip of relatively thin sheet metal and includes a fabric contacting portion 30 and a pair of downwardly turned end tabs 33 and 34. The end tabs 33, 34 are insertable into the openings 29 formed in the baffle 20 and each end tab includes a pair of barbs 35 engageable with the baffle member 20 to securely retain the electrode 21 within the formed recess 25. At one end of the electrode, as best shown in FIG. 6, the tab 33 continues into an electrical connector means in the form of an integral male spade terminal 36 to which a mating electrical connector may be applied for connecting the electrode 21 into the control circuit. It may be seen, especially in FIG. 6, that the fabric engaging portion 30 of the electrode is formed with downturned flanges 39 to present a smooth surface for contact by the fabrics. It is also clear in FIGS. 7 and 8 that the barbs 35 at the end of the electrode 21 formed on the downwardly turned end tabs 33 and 34 are engageable with the bafile member 20 to securely retain the electrode 21 in position and prevents the backing out of the electrode member as a connector is assembled to the male spade terminal 36.

A pair of electrodes 21 are provided in this preferred embodiment. T o prevent shorting between the electrodes at the downwardly extending terminals 36 an insulating wall 40 is provided and formed integrally with the baflle member 20.

It is thus clear from the foregoing description that the instant invention provides an improved electrode assembly comprising an electrode member 21 integrally including a fabric contacting portion 30, a holding means comprising the end tabs 33 and 34 with barbs 35, and an electrical terminal portion 36. It is clear that such an improved electrode provides unusual advantages in the fabrication of electrode assemblies including economy of material of both the baffle and the electrode and simplification and ease of fabrication and assembly through the elimination of separate holding components and electrical terminals while also achieving improved operational reliability.

In the drawings and specification, there has been set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention and although specific terms are employed these are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation. Changes in form and the proportion of parts as well as the substitution of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, without departing from the spirit or scope of this invention as further defined in the following claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An electrode for a moisture determination control system in a fabric drying apparatus and mountable on an insulative electrode holder, the combination comprising: an elongated fabric engaging portion having a substantially smooth surface; retaining means engageable with said electrode holder for securely positioning said electrode on said electrode holder; and electrical terminal means adapted to receive an electrical connector for eletcrically connecting said electrode into said moisture determination control system; said fabric engaging portion, said retaining means, and said electrical terminal means being integrally connected in' a unitary structure formed of a continuous strip of conductive metal.

2. An electrode as defined in claim 1 and formed from an elongated strip of thin sheet metal and wherein said retaining means is in the form of barbed end tabs engageable with said electrode holder.

3. An electrode as defined in claim 2 wherein the extremity of at least one end tab is formed as a male spade terminal.

4. An electrode assembly for a fabric drying apparatus having a rotatable container and a controlsystem operable for controlling the drying apparatus responsive to the electrical condition of the fabrics in the container, comprising: electrically insulative mounting means positioned within said container, and an elongated electrode member positioned on said insulative mounting means for contact by said fabrics, said electrode member being formed of a continuous strip of conductive metal defining retaining means for positioning and retaining the electrode member on said insulative mounting means and integral electrical terminal means for receiving a mating connector to electrically connect said electrode member to said control system.

5. An electrode assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said integral retaining means is in the form of a pair of depending barbed legs and wherein said insulative mounting means define openings for engageably receiving said barbed legs.

6. An electrode assembly as defined in claim 5 wherein at least one of said legs extends through the opening defined by said insulative mounting means to form said integral terminal means.

7. An electrode assembly as defined in claim 4 wherein said electrode member is formed of a continuous strip of relatively thin conductive metal and includes a pair of depending barbed end tabs and wherein the extremity of at least one of said tabs is formed as a male spade electrical terminal.

8. A baffle assembly for a fabric drying apparatus having a rotatable container and a control system operable for controlling the drying apparatus responsive to the electrical condition of the fabrics in the container, comprising: electrically insulative baflle means positioned within said container and attached to the container for rotation therewith, and an elongated electrode member positioned on said baffle means for contact by said fabrics, said electrode member being formed of a continuous strip of conductive metal defining retaining means engageable with said bafile means for positioning and retaining the electrode member on said baffle means and integral electrical terminal means for receiving a mating connector to electrically connect said electrode member to said control system.

9. A baffie assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said electrode member includes a pair of depending leg portions and wherein said bafile defines openings to receive and securely engage said leg portions.

10. A baffle assembly as defined in claim 8 wherein said bafile means is substantially hollow and defines opening means for engageably receiving said depending retaining means and said terminal means to facilitate a connection of said integral terminal means with said mating electrical connector internally of said hollow baffie means.

11. A bafile assembly as defined in claim 8' and includ- 6 ing a second electrode member positioned on said bafile 3,284,918 11/1966 Malecki et al 34-48X spaced from said first electrode member and further in- 3,284,919 11/ 1966 Gartley et al 3448 eluding electrically insulative ridge means positioned be- 3,343,272 9/1967 Janke et al 34-45 tween said electrode members and projecting beyond the 3,411,219 11/ 1968 Bartholomew 3445 surface of said electrode members. 5

CARROLL B. DORITY, 111., Primary Examiner References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS '3'445; 338-34 2,991,641 7/1961 Woodhng 3445X 3,197,885 871965 Smith 34-45 10 

